Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation honors members

The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation held its 2007 Profiles of Courage Dinner Gala Nov. 17 at The Mirage.

The theme of this year's 14th annual fundraising event was "Art of Life: Painting a Promising Future."

At the event, the nonprofit organization honored local community members for supporting the foundation.

Bob and Molly Hamrick of Coldwell Banker Premier Realty received the Community Angel Award for their company's support and generosity.

Sherry Drewes was named the Volunteer of the Year for her work with Camp Cartwheel, the foundation's camp for children, and with the foundation's Profiles of Courage Bead program. And Dr. Edith Schmidt received the Health Care Professional of the Year Award.

Proceeds raised at the gala's silent auction will help fund the organization's programs that offer aid and support to local families with children who have cancer, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, renal disorders or other illnesses.

In other news:

* Las Vegan Julie Hession has been selected as a semifinalist in the 2nd annual Simply Manischewitz Cook-Off.

Hession, who will prepare her recipe "Beef Tenderloin with Marsala Mushroom sauce," will compete against nine other semifinalists in the regional segment of the cooking competition in San Francisco on Dec. 20. The winner will advance to the Simply Manischewitz Cook-Off finals to compete for a $25,000 grand prize package. The finals will be held Feb. 27 in New York City.

* Ernie Ashby, a sixth-grade teacher at Orr Middle School, was named the recipient of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award in November.

Ashby, who teaches English, reading and leadership, will receive an award of $25,000 in the spring at the Milken National Education Conference in Los Angeles.

The foundation's National Educator awards program has been honoring elementary and secondary teachers, principals and education specialists since 1985.

* Stacy Junio, 41, competed in the Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship race held Nov. 10 in Clearwater, Fla. Junio completed the race in 7 hours, 23 minutes and 47 seconds.

More than 1,500 competitors participated in the race, which included a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run.

The race was won by Andy Potts of Colorado Springs, Colo.

If you know of a worthy candidate for this column, mail information to Newsmakers, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070, or send faxes to 383-4676.